PREMIER ERDOGAN PAYS HIS SECOND VISIT TO THE OVAL OFFICE
On his six-day visit to the United States, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with President George W. Bush at the White House. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, State Minister Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal as well as a number of bureaucrats and advisors accompanied Erdogan during his second visit to the Oval Office. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the two leaders stated that they shared a warm handshake and discussed efforts to resume talks over the future of Cyprus as well as the war on terrorism and the future of Iraq. Bush described Turkey as a “friend and important ally” of the US, words stressing that the two NATO allies focus on the common threat of global terrorism and the shared problem of stability in Iraq. Addressing Turkish fears that the Kurds would be granted an independent state, Bush told that the US supported a unified Iraq. “I assured Erdogan that the United States' ambition is for a peaceful country, a democratic Iraq that is territorially intact,” said Bush. Praising Turkey’s efforts on the war against terrorism, Bush added, “I appreciate the prime minister's steadfast determination to fight terror.” For his part, Erdogan said he was “very happy” that Washington had fulfilled pledges to list the latest incantation of PKK as a terrorist group. “The United States has decided to list KONGRA-GEL among terrorist organizations, we're very happy for that,” added Erdogan. “It's very obvious where Turkey stands in the fight against terrorism that needs to be mutual and international, especially in the aftermath of what happened on Sept. 11.” Meanwhile, Paul Bremer, the US administrator in Baghdad, yesterday issued a statement declaring the PKK and its affiliates, which use northern Iraq as a “safe haven” would be treated as terrorist organizations by coalition troops. The two leaders also discussed recent efforts to reunify Cyprus. “I state once again that the Turkish side is determined for a solution,” said Erdogan. “We will always be a step ahead of our Greek counterparts, and we're determined to solve this as soon as possible.” For his part, Bush said, “I appreciated his trying to find a solution, a solution to a longstanding dispute," said Bush. In addition, Erdogan also added that Bush charged Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal with the Cyprus issue as a facilitator, who is expected to hold a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan tomorrow. Bush and Erdogan are expected to meet again in June, when NATO leaders gather in Istanbul for an alliance summit. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN MEETS RELIGIOUS LEADERS
On his historic visit to the United States, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with religious leaders in Washington and New York, calling the US as the meeting point of different civilizations. The premier met with prominent figures from the American Muslim community, including Sheikh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America, who is well known for his reformist stance. American Muslim leaders stated that Turkey might be a model for the Islamic world, urging Erdogan to improve Ankara’s dialogue with other Muslim countries. Erdogan then met with Jewish leaders at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and discussed Turkish-Israeli relations and the Middle East Peace Process with them. He also thanked the Jewish lobby for its pro-Turkey campaign in the US. The premier also came together with the figures of the US high society in a luncheon held in his honor. /Sabah/
GUL DUE TO HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE IN FEBRUARY
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to have a busy schedule next month. Gul is set to travel to Brussels on Feb. 5 for an official visit. Later, upon the invitation of his Polish counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, he is set to pay an official visit to Poland on Feb. 9. Gul would also meet with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller during his visit. The foreign minister is expected to attend a meeting in Kuwait on Feb. 14. The meeting is set to focus on the Iraq issue. A representative from Iraq is set to participate in the meeting. Later, Gul is due to travel to Moscow on Feb. 24 upon the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT PASSES A BILL TO ERASE SIX ZEROS FROM THE TL
The Parliament yesterday passed a bill to erase six zeros from the Turkish lira. Speaking to the deputies, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that the Parliament took an historic decision by accepting to erase zeros from the lira. The new lira would begin to circulate in 2005. /All papers/
NY TIMES PRAISES ERDOGAN’S LEADERSHIP: “A TURKISH SUCCESS STORY”
In an opinion piece entitled “A Turkish Success Story,” the New York Times praised the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently paying a visit to the United States. “Turkey is changing in surprising and encouraging ways, setting a constructive example for the entire Muslim Middle East,” noted the US daily. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an Islamic politician who favors democratic pluralism, it has enacted far-reaching reforms that are intended to meet the exacting admissions criteria of the European Union. Mr. Erdogan, who visits the White House today, is a strongly pro-Western leader who worked hard to repair the breach that opened between Washington and Ankara over the Iraq war, which Turkish public opinion strongly opposed. The Bush administration clearly appreciates those efforts, as the high-level reception awaiting Mr. Erdogan in Washington shows. But the administration can do more, especially on the tangled issue of Cyprus, divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriot sectors. Winning E.U. approval for Turkey's candidacy later this year probably depends on a resolution of this issue.” The New York Times also added that the Turkish generals must stand behind Erdogan's Cyprus diplomacy as well as his efforts to move closer to Western-style democracy. “America has a strong interest in Mr. Erdogan's success,” stressed the daily. /Hurriyet/
CHENEY: “IN ORDER TO DEFEAT TERRORIST GROUPS, WE SHOULD DEVELOP DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST”
Speaking to an Italian daily Corriere della Sera yesterday, US Vice President Dick Cheney said that democracy and freedom were adopted by such Muslim countries as Turkey, adding that in order to defeat terrorist groups, democracy in the Middle East should be developed. “Democracy is adopted by all Muslim countries such as Turkey,” said Cheney. /Aksam/
THE DYP REACTS HARSHLY TO BARZANI’S THREATS AGAINST TURKEY
Celal Adan, deputy leader of the True Path Party (DYP), yesterday reacted harshly to Nechirvan Barzani, who had stated that Turkish troops in northern Iraq deployed to prevent any clashes between Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) should be retreated. Barzani is a top official of the IKDP. Adan also criticized the government’s northern Iraq policy, adding that Turkey should begin an operation in northern Iraq with 20,000 troops. /Turkiye/
BREMER: “NO TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WILL TAKE SHELTER IN NEW IRAQ”
Paul Bremer, United States’ civilian administrator in Iraq yesterday vowed to take harsh measures against the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK, or with its new name Kongragel. In a written statement, Bremer stressed that US President George W. Bush had pledged to save Iraq from terrorist organizations. “Both coalition and Iraqi security forces accept that the PKK/KADEK or Kongragel is a terrorist organization and in no way they will not be allowed to take shelter in new Iraq,” said Bremer. /Turkiye/
COUNCIL OF EUROPE ACCEPTS REPORT ON TURKEY
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday discussed a report on Turkey prepared by Hungarian Parliamentarian Matyas Eorsi and made a recommendatory decision. Praising Turkish government’s recent initiatives to find a settlement on the Cyprus, the decision stated that Ankara should be encouraged in the bid to solve the issue. Another motion accepted advised that Turkey should be ensured to begin negotiations for European Union membership as soon as it fulfills Copenhagen criteria. In related news, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that the commission had mostly changed its views on Turkey positively. He added that most of the governments of the EU countries had a positive stance on Turkey’s EU membership; however, they had some difficulties to convince their parliaments and public. /Hurriyet/
ANNAN: “ANKARA’S STANCE IS ENCOURAGING”
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that his recent meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “encouraging.” After meeting with European Union Commission members in Brussels, speaking at a joint press conference with Romano Prodi, the head of the commission, Annan said, “In Davos, we had a very fruitful meeting with the Turkish premier.” He expressed his pleasure to hear that Ankara was ready to begin talks on Cyprus. “Erdogan presented me certain proposals on the matter and I’m seriously examining them,” said the UN Secretary-General. In addition, Prodi stated that after his meeting with Erdogan in Ankara, he was more hopeful for a solution on the island by May 1. /Turkiye/
VERHEUGEN: “EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S VIEW ON TURKEY’S EU BID HAS CHANGED POSITIVELY”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said yesterday that the European Council’s point of view on Turkey’s EU bid changed positively. “The commission members’ ideas on Turkey’s EU membership changed positively,” he said. Verheugen further stated that recently passed reforms should be implemented. /Milliyet/
PAPADOPULOS: “WE CAN BEGIN CYPRUS TALKS WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITION”
Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Tasos Papadopulos said yesterday that if United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan invites them to resume Cyprus talks, his administration would accept it. Speaking at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Papadopulos said that their administration was ready to attend talks on Cyprus soon without any precondition at the invitation of Annan. Stressing that he wanted to believe sincerity of Ankara in its initiatives for a solution, the Greek Cypriot leader said that there was no need for a change of the mediator, UN Special Envoy for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto, during the talks possible to begin. /Turkiye/
CB HEAD: “THE EXCHANGE RATES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL DUE TO THE ECONOMIC STABILITY”
Central Bank Head Sureyya Serdengecti said yesterday that the exchange rates would continue to fall due to the recent positive economic stability. Serdengecti briefed reporters on the monetary policy, adding that the fiscal policy was also important for the continuation of economic stability. /Milliyet/